Section 5 in Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Establishment of Forum and Ombudsman for Redressal of Grievances of the Consumers) Regulations, 2003
5. Functions of the Forum.
(1)All decision of the Forum shall be on the basis of majority of the members present and voting provided that the co-opted member shall not have any right to vote.(2)The quorum for the Forum meeting shall be two and each member shall have one vote and in case of equality of votes on any issue or resolution, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote.(3)The Chairperson shall have the general powers of superintendence and control over the Forum.(4)The Forum shall duly comply with such directions as the Commission may issue from time to time.(5)On occurrence of any vacancy in the forum for any reason, the licensee shall take action to fill up the vacancy within two months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy. No act of proceeding of the Forum shall be deemed invalid by reason only of some defect in the constitution of the Forum or by reason of the existence of a vacancy among its members.(6)The Forum shall maintain a regular office at the principal place of business of the Licensee where the Forum shall receive the Complaints. The Forum shall have sittings at such Principal Office and also at any other place in the area of supply of the Licensee as may be decided by the Forum from time to time considering the number of complaints received, the place from where the Complaint is received and the proximity to the principal place of business of the licensees and other relevant factors.Provided that a licensee may establish more than one forum so as to ensue that the Forum decides every complaint within a maximum period of 45 days from the date of receipt of complaint by it. The licensee shall clearly specify the location and the jurisdiction of each Forum in case of more than one Forum.(7)The Forum shall receive the complaint of the consumer forwarded to or filed with the Forum so long as such complaint is in writing and the Forum shall not insist or prescribe any format for filing of the complaint or for entertaining it.(8)The office of the Forum shall issue due acknowledgement of the receipt of the Complaint to the Complainant.(9)The Forum shall maintain true and correct records of all Complaints received by the Forum from time to time.(10)The Form shall duly comply with any consumer complaint handling procedure, which the Commission may specify from time to time.(11)The Forum shall decide the Complaint expeditiously and shall communicate its decision to the Complainant within a period not exceeding 45 days of the receipt of the Complaint. The Forum shall give the reasons in support of its decisions. The views, if any, expressed by the Co-opted Member shall also be communicated to the Complaint.(12)The Licensee shall from time to time give publicity of the constitution and existence of the Forum including in the bills raised for the supply of electricity to the consumers and in such other manner as the Commission may from time to time notify. The names/designation of the Members and the concerned officers of the Forum, the address, e-mail, facsimile and phone numbers of the Forum shall be displayed at all the offices of the Licensee and shall also be duly publicised, if considered appropriate including on the bills raised on the Consumers.(13)The licensee shall provide required supporting staff and appropriate office accommodation for functioning of the Forum.(14)The Licensee shall meet all the costs and expenses of the Forum including the establishment and staff required to assist the Forum in the discharge of the functions under these Regulations and also the cost and expenses of the Co-opted Member.(15)The office expenditure of the Forum will be considered in the revenue requirement of the licensee and will be allowed as a pass-through expense.
